Tuesday, July 26, 2016

July 18-24 training recap and where I run (part 2)

Happy Tuesday! I'm a little late recapping last week's training, so here it is:

MONDAY - Rest
TUESDAY - 10 minutes on stationary bike, 30 minutes of upper-body strength work
WEDNESDAY - Zumba class
THURSDAY - 10 minutes on stationary bike, 40 minutes of lifting (full-body, but focus on lower-body)
FRIDAY - Yoga class
SATURDAY - Run 3 miles on treadmill, 20 minutes strength work on shoulders, chest, back
SUNDAY - Yoga video

Workouts aside, Chicago got hit with apocalyptic thunderstorms over the past weekend. On Sunday during one of the worst stretches, I was in the living room doing yoga. At one point, the wind was so strong I was worried the windows were going to break. The storms even knocked down the canopy on a train station located a couple of miles away from my home:
YIKES!!!
Source
Other notes from the week:
  • I was scheduled to run the PAWS Run For Their Lives 5K on Sunday, but opted to pass. The run was untimed; I knew the severe thunderstorms the day before would result in course flooding; we were under a heat advisory; and the location was logistically very difficult in conjunction with other things I had going on that day. Plus, I had signed up purely for the charitable cause, and Adam and I had already made a large donation for the event. Hopefully that more than made up for the DNS. =(
  • DNS aside, what a difference it makes to run because you want to, not because you have to! I was surprised when the urge to log a few miles hit me on Saturday. The temperatures were in the 90s with triple-digit "real-feel" temps so I opted to stay on the treadmill - but it still felt good.
  • I am going to be in Pittsburgh in September the same weekend as the Great Race. This is apparently one of the largest 10Ks in the country. Very cool! I haven't signed up yet, but am about 80% certain I will.
I'm also linking up with Marcia, Patti, and Erika for Tuesdays on the Run.
This week's topic is: Summer scenes from my run.

On the overall topic of where I run, I previously shared some photos/details in this post. Therefore, today I will approach this topic from a different angle.

I am constantly amazed by the vast array of beautiful, creative murals and street art in the city. Here are a few from around my local neighborhood:
Soho House at Washington and Green
Lake and Morgan
(This photo is actually an outtake, but I ended up liking the way it turned out.)
Bridgeford Foods at Lake and Green
Lake and Racine
Randolph and Peoria
Bridgford Foods at Lake and Green
The Palace Grill at Madison and Loomis; this got updated to
"We Won The Cup" after the Blackhawks' 2015 Stanley Cup victory.
(You know I wouldn't miss an opportunity to share this one!)
Lake and Racine

Tell me more about the scenes from where you run. What running atmospheres do you like? Have you come across any unusual sightings or events during a recent run?

30 comments:

  1. I don't come across too many unusual things during my runs.

    Tell me more about this 10K in Pittsburgh. I might go out for the Steeler's race in September too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here's the URL for the Great Race: http://www.rungreatrace.com/

      They offer both a 5K and a 10K, and I read that it's the largest 10K in the state of Pennsylvania. I also heard that parts of the course mimic the Pittsburgh Marathon, and that the course runs through three universities (UPitt, Carnegie Mellon, and Duquesne). I don't believe they offer a medal, but it's supposed to be a very fun, festive event!

      Please do let me know if you end up registering, it would be awesome to meet up in person there!!!

      Delete
  2. You should do the Pittsburgh 10k. (How's that for peer pressure?). Those murals are very impressive. I have fun at the art classes my group goes to, but I don't really have artistic talent.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peer pressure dually noted. =) What kind of art classes have you taken? Would love to hear more about what types of art you've learned about!!!

      Delete
  3. Your scenes are so much better than mine. :-) Love them!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your scenes are fantastic! Lola alone always brings an enormous smile to my face! Thanks, Zenaida. =)

      Delete
  4. Oooh the 10k in Pittsburgh sounds perfect for you! When I dragged the kids down to McCormick place via train and el a couple weeks ago they noticed all the beautiful murals along the way. Love that one of you and the black & white art!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Marcia! Ah yes - there are some gorgeous murals in the neighborhoods you'd pass through to get to McCormick Place!!! Urban art at its finest. =)

      Delete
  5. The murals are so awesome !! That has to be one of my favorite art forms... murals! The outtake picture is great! Great contrast of the purple on your dress.

    What scary storms are happening in Chicago! Scary!

    A good donation more than makes up for the DNS!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Ana! I love murals, too! The artistic creativity really blows my mind. There's so much beauty on the streets, it's just up to all of us to notice!

      Yes, very scary storms! We've had a rough ride the last few weeks with searing heat, steaming humidity, and now the storms. Hopefully we'll get some good weather now to make up for it!

      Thanks again Ana!!!

      Delete
  6. Wow, you have some pretty awesome scenery on your runs! No worries about your DNS, I probably would have done the same. :) Great week of workouts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Rachel! I am glad to hear I am not the only one who would have chosen to DNS, given the circumstances. Much appreciate the positive feedback on my training week. =)

      Delete
  7. I got down to Irving Park Road and the Lakefront Trail and saw them setting up the aid stations for the PAWS 5k. I had no idea when the race would start and thought that maybe I would see you once I turned around and headed north again. However, by the time I got back the race was winding down - so I figured you had already passed by the spot I was at! Anyway, I love the pics of the wall art. Of course you had one of supporting the Blackhawks! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for thinking of me, Pete! The race has two separate courses - one for the humans running the 5K, and one for the dogs and their owners walking 5K. In past years, the walkers course took place on the LFT. So even had I run, I probably wouldn't have seen you anyways. Maybe another time! Thank you, I am glad you like the wall art! Yes, I am already counting down the days until hockey season starts up again. =)

      Delete
  8. I didn't realize the PAWS race was untimed. Clearly you and I were on the same wavelength regarding races this week!

    I love all the murals in our 'hood, too. I love running down Hubbard Street so I can see them all along there as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't realize until the night before that the race was untimed, too! I think it was part of the event's overhaul when they changed from an 8K to a 5K. It probably saves them money by forgoing the chip timing, which means more money for the pets. I can live with that! And yes - we were very much on the same wavelength regarding races this week!!!!!!!

      Ahhhhh, I haven't run down Hubbard Street! Note to self to check it out in the near future, thanks for the tip. =)

      Delete
  9. Wow, I had no idea that side of town had SO many murals! I'm not over there all that often, I suppose, but I'm going to have to keep my eyes open when I'm passing through in the future, because that's so beautiful!

    Bethany @ Accidental Intentions

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OMG - the West Loop is FILLED with them, especially on Lake Street and on the little side streets between Lake and Madison. It's quite an adventure, especially because the murals change a lot, too! There are also tons of gorgeous ones in Pilsen. I think the art gives the neighborhoods a lot of personality, yes?

      Delete
  10. I love your mural photos! I'm such a fan of all the great street art in our city :) And those storm photos are still crazy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Alexandra! We are very blessed to have so much beautiful street art here, indeed. It really adds such a great dimension of personality to all of the neighborhoods, yes? Hopefully our storm surges are over now, at least for a little bit!!!

      Delete
  11. Thanks Kelly! I would LOVE to have the opportunity to run in woodsy neighborhoods or riverfront bike paths on a regular basis. So peaceful and so many great opportunities to lose yourself in your own thoughts! Thanks, I had NO expectation that I'd want to go running again anytime soon, so it was nice to feel the urge again. I don't think I've felt it at all in the several months!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love all the murals you featured here. One of the things I like to do on the run is find something unusual. Which is difficult, as you can imagine, in the cookie cutter suburbs! But leave it to me...

    I would totally do that 10k.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Wendy! And yes - you do seem to have plenty of adventure-filled runs!!! =) Yay for the 10K!!!

      Delete
  13. Thanks Karen! It would be awesome to see cool wildlife. The only animals I ever see in the city are pigeons, seagulls, squirrels, ducks, and other peoples' pets. I hope the weather calms down by you soon, too! It sounds like it has been a really blistering summer for so many of us runners, when will fall arrive?!?!?! Thanks again, Karen!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Those murals are pretty cool! Some of the I saw from that storm were sweet looking but it definitely looked nasty!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Kayla! How has the weather been by you? Have you been hit with the massive thunderstorms, too???

      Delete
    2. Nope. We've been missing out on the weather for the most part. We could actually use a good storm...it's starting to get a little dry.

      Delete
    3. I actually look at the National Drought Monitor every week (totally random, I know - but I was really struck by how visibly bad the drought situation was when we ran Disneyland two years ago). You're right - there are a lot of dry regions throughout the Midwest and the entire country. =(

      Delete
  15. Love all the artwork! Your outtake photo is almost like camo ... you almost get lost in the black and white!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Natalie!!! The black-and-white dress was a total coincidence that day but it worked out well for outtake purposes! =)

      Delete